From the first time Jane appears in the story as a child, she leaves a strong impression. That is, when she has a fight with her cousin and her aunt is going to punish her. The conversation between her and her aunt was as the following, “ ‘What shocking conduct, Miss Eyre, to strike a young gentleman, your benefactress’s son! Your young master.’ ‘Master! How is he my master? Am I a servant?’” (2). This shows the readers that she fights for her rights and refuses the ‘fate’ that is given to her.
Mr. Rochester claims that because she does not have family around that may be offended by her decision she can reject any conventional morality. However, she refutes his claim by saying, “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself” (27). She realizes how much it is important to do the right thing especially because she does not have a family and no one supports in the world.
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Jane says, “If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter but would grow worse and worse” (6). Jane shows her belief that women or people or general should defend themselves and to make sure that they are never mistreated again, at least not with the same person. She cannot give any reason to bless people who curse them because they will harm them again if they do not stop them. This shows the strong character that Jane has in oppose to other women in that
Ultimately, as a woman, she is a limited agent and can only do so much indecently. Jane breaks off from the domestic sphere to which she is confined
Jane Eyre Chapters 5-6: I chose the quote, “The “real” subject of [Jane Eyre] is the emotional and intellectual needs (the two inextricably related) of a woman.” to connect with Chapter 6. In pg. 51, it states, “‘You dirty, disagreeable girl! you have never cleaned your nails this morning!” This exclamation spoken by Miss Scatcherd shows the current state the girls are in [in the orphanage].
" I was compelled to live under the same roof as him. (Chapter 5) to show how, even though it was wrong, there was not much she could do. During this time, people even told her how she should be thankful that her master was not making her work in the fields and how she should be thankful to be wanted and lusted after. Even the mistress, who lived in the same house, "who ought to protect the helpless victim, has no other feelings towards her but those of jealousy and rage." (chapter 5).
Her "shocking" stature and diverse hued hair fit in with the assorted society of America. She has dependably been a manlier lady instead of female. She wants to be OK with baggier attire and is a long way from shallow. From the start it is obvious that Jane possess the strong value of domination. She feels that she is dominant in most circumstances, even if she is the minority in some settings.
It is ironic that Jane is seen as the guilty party in the incident with John Reed because John started the fight when he slapped Jane. Then when John’s sisters, Eliza and Georgina, go to “tattle tale” on Jane, their mother blames Jane for the whole situation. Jane compares John to a “murderer,” “slave-driver,” and “Roman Emperors” (Bronte 9). During this comparison, she is implying that he is a very cruel and awful person. That he would beat her and boss her around.
Finally, the details about society show that Jane recognizes the standards of her victorian society and needs to abide by them. After Jane had thought awhile, she no longer “felt justified in judging” Mr. Rochester and Blanche for “acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled into them.” Though Jane wishes to be loved by Mr. Rochester, she comes to the realization that rich men do not marry lower-class women in her
It is Helen who advises Jane to study the New Testament and follow Christ's example, in particular his injunction to "Love your enemies"--a counsel that clearly influences the forgiveness Jane grants the dying Mrs. Reed” (Lamonaca
Rochester is not a guy who is told “no” often. The fact the Jane was able to accomplish that, really shows how strong and powerful Jane truly
You think me an unfeeling, loose-principled rake: don't you?” (Brontë 313). {Rochester is honest with Jane as he tells her that he is in need of someone for his own convenience. He even tells her that he got tired of them rather quickly because, even though he is not intelligent, he knows when woman are good for him or not. He seems to be ashamed of himself for telling Jane and being so wantful of women but not being able to actually love them.}
First, Jane Eyre’s attributes displays women in our society who are still in search for meaning and love in their lives. Just like Jane’s spirit of passion despite abuse, these women continue to search for respect from other
Rochester’s rejects societal norms and unnamed sexual crime. Mr. Rochester does not live the way that society thinks he should live or what is normal for the society he lives in. Even with the chance of marrying a beautiful and wealthy young women, he “wouldn’t - couldn’t marry miss Ingram” instead he chose a “poor and obscure, and small and plain” woman (Bronte 322). Mr. Rochester did not marry Miss Ingram because of her greed. Back in the 1840s women in this society married men that seem to have it all, financially.
Jane goes against the expected type by “refusing subservience, disagreeing with her superiors, standing up for her rights, and venturing creative thoughts” (Margaret, 1997, p. 325-346). She is not only successful in terms of wealth and position, but more importantly, in terms of family and love. These two needs that have evaded Jane for so long are finally hers. Adding to her victory is her ability to enjoy both without losing her hard-won independence. Everybody has the rights to pursue happiness, to pursue the true spirit of life, which can be seen from Jane Eyre’s struggle for independence and equality.
The novel being written at a time when the society was a patriarchal society , dominated by man and by the rich and wealthy person of the society, the struggle Jane had to go through in order to find her individual identity, independence, equality and dignity seem impossible for a woman of no fortune and no physical beauty. Yet Jane never surrenders to those snobbish people who despise poor and the weak people. She defied most of the cultural standards and the societal norms of the Victorian period which was a man- dominated society and the poor people were oppressed. She lived in a ‘’world that measured the likelihood of woman’s success by the degree of her marriageability,’’ which included her familial connections, economic status and beauty ( Moglene 484). We can see from the relationships she had with men that she defied the generally accepted norms and tradions of the nineteenth- century women.
Both of their pasts significantly contribute to the lack of cultural acceptance between them. Rochester grew up in a large family, and being the youngest, developed a competitive nature. This trailed him through his entire life, however as Rochester matured, his competitiveness quickly transformed to prejudice, putting his relationship at great risk. This character provides insight to the societal norms of this period through his pedantic, critical comments. “...but her language is horrible and she might hold her dress up” (Rhys 77).
The reaction to the novel showcases how women were treated in the 17th century with a reviewer in The London Quarterly Review stating that the character, Jane Eyre was “destitute of all attractive, feminine qualities” and